Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-01
CHAPTER XVII.
u.r vr.n

that IL Is very bad stale OF mind Tor mar
OH the wrong side of middle age to fall into.
CHAPTER XVII
WE LEAP.
Wopassed through the caves without trouble
but when VIC came 10 the slope OF tho inverted
conc two difficulties stared us in tho face. Tho
first of these was the laborious nature Of the
ascent, and the next the extreme difficulty OF
finding our way. Indeed, had it not been for
the mental notes that had fortunately taken
of the shape of various rocks, etc, l am
sure that we never should have managed it
at all, but have wandered about in the dread
full womb ofthe volcano-for Supposed must
once have been something OF the sort-until
we died of exhaustion and despair. As it was,
we went wrong several times, and once nearly
fell into huge crack or crevasse. 1t WINS ter
rible work creeping about in the dense gloom
and awful stiffness from bowlder TO bowlder,
and examining it by the feeble lights Of the
lamp to see il / could recognize its shape. We
rnrely spoke, our hearts were too heavy for
speech, we simply stumbled about, falling
sometimes and cutting ourselves in rather
logged sort of way. Tho fact was that our
spirits were utterly crushed, and we did not
greatly care what happened to us. Only we
foIt bound 70 try and save our lives while 20
could, and, indeed, a natural instinct prompt
cd us to it. So for some three or four hours, l
should think-I cannot tell exactly how long,
for we had no watch left that would go-wo
Numbered on. During the last two hours we
were completely lost, and began to fear that
We had got in the funnel Of some subsidiary
conc. when at last suddenly recognisoda very
large reck which we had laxsed in descending
but little way from tho top. 10 Is marvel
that should have recognized 81, and, indeed
wo had already passed IL IN going at right
angles to the proper path, when something
about IL struck me, and ! turned hack aud
examined 1t in AL idle sort of way, and, Gs it
happened, this proved our salvation.
After this we gained the rocky natural
stair without much further trouble, and in
due course found ourselves back in the little
chamber, where the benighted Moot had
lived and died
But now fresh terror stared us In tho face.
1t may be remembered that, owing TO poor
jobs fear and awkwardness, the plank upon
which we had crossed from the huge spur to
tho rocking stone had been whirled of into
tho gulf below.
How were We to cross without the plankl
There was only one answer--we must try
and jump It, or else stop where we were till
we starved. Tho distance in itself was not
very great-between eleven md twelve feet,
] should think-nnd have seen Leo jump
over pinoteen feet when he was young fell
low at college; but then, think OF the condi-
lions. Two wenry, worn out men, one OF
them the wrong side of 49, a rocking stone to
take of from, a trembling point OF rock some
few feet across TO land on, and bottomless
gulf to DO cleared in raging gale. II was
bad enough, God kiiS..s, 5ut when pointed
out these things 20 i-o, he put the whole
matter in a nutshell by replying that, merci-
less as the choice wns, we must choose be-
tween tho certainty of n lingering death in
the chamber and the risk of n swift one in the
mir. OF course there was no arguing against
this but one thing was clear, we could not
attempt that leap in the dark; the only thing
70 do was TO wait for the ray of light which
pierced through the gulf at sunset How
near to or how far from sunset we might he
neither of us had the faintest notion; all we
did know was That when ut last the light
came 1t would not endure moro than couple
OF minutes at the outside, so that we must be
prepared TO meet it. Accordingly, we made
up our minds to creep on to the top of the
rocking stone and lie there in readiness. We
were the moro readily reconciled to this
course by the fact that our lamps were once
more nearly xhnusted-indeed, one had gone
out bodily, and the other was jumping up
and down. as the fame Of lamp does when
the oil Is done. So by the aid Of its dying
light we hastened to crawl out of the little
chamber and Chamber up the side Of the great
stone.
As We did so tho light went out.
The difference IN our position was a sufil.
GENTLY remarkable one Below, in the little
chamber, wo had only heard the roaring OF
the gale overhead; here, lying on our faces
on the swinging stone, we were exposed e
its full force and fury, as tho great drarught
drew first from this direction and then from
that, bowling against the mighty precipict
and through the rocky cliffs Ike 10000 dc
Spairing souls We lay there hour after houi
in terror and misery Of mind SO deep that
will not attempt TO describe II, and listened
TO the wild storm voices OF that Tnrtarus, a
set 10 the deep undertone of the spur oppo
site, against which the wind hummed lilE'
some awful harp, they called TO each othel
from precipice TO precipice. No nightmnrI
dreamed by man, no wild invention OF thu
romancer, can ever equal the living horror Of
that place and the weird crying Of thosI
voices OF the night MS we lay, like ship
wrecked mariners OH raft, and tossed on O
black, unfathomed wilderness of air. Fortu
nately the temperature was not low one
indeed, the wind was warm, or we should
have persisted. Well, we lay and listened
and while we still were stretched out upor
the rock n thing happened that was 20 curl
Gus and suggestive In itself, though doubtles
it was mere coincidence, that, IL anything
burden of our nerves.
II will he remembered that when Ayeshi
was standing on the spur, before we crosset
10 the stone, the wind tore her cloak from hc
and vhirled 10 away into the darkness OF th'
gull, we could not aeo whittier. Well.
hardly like TO tell the story, 1t Is 30 stlpngo-
ns we lay thoTe upon the rocking stone, TIT
very cloak come floating out OF the blacl
space, like memory from the dead, and fel
on Leo so that 1t covered him nearly from
head 10 foot, We could not at FIRST maxi
out Yhnt 10 was, but soon discovered by II.
feel, and then poor Leo for tho first time gave
way, and leafNl him sobblnR there upon the
stone. No doubt the cloak had been caught
upon some pinnacle of the cliff and was
thence blown hither by chance gust; but
still it WIS most curious and touching Incl
dent
Shortly after this, suddenly, without the
slightest previous warning, the great rcd
knife OF light came stabblng the darkness
through and through, struck the swaying
stone on which we lay and rested its sharp
point upon tho spur opposite
snow for II, said Leo, 'now or neverT
We iOse and stretched ourselves, and looked
ut the cloud wreaths stained tho color OF
blood by that red ray, as they tore through
the slckening depths beneath, and then at the
empty space between the swaying stone aud
tho qulvering rock, and In our hearts DIES
paired and prepared for death Surely VIC
could not clear it, desperate though we were.
"Who Is TO go flistP said /.
''Do you, old fellow" answered Leo ~ will
sit upon the other side Of the stone 10 steady
it. You must take rs much run as you can
and jump high; and God have mercy on
us, say In
! acguicsced with nod. and then did a
thing Ind never done since Leo was little
boy turned and put my arm round him
and kissed him on tho forehead. II sounds
rather French, but as fact was taking my
last farewell OF man whom could not have
over.
Good by, my boy,p said, ~ hope that wo
shall meet again, wherever il is TINT we 90 to-
Tho fact was 1 did not expect to 1--we an
other two minutes.
Next retreated to tho far side Of the rock,
and waited I'll ono OF the chopping gusts Of
wind got behind me. and then commenting